Parachute harness



Aug. 1'1, 1942'.

J. w. HoRNlNG '2,292,639

PARACHUTE HARNESS Filed June 3, 1940 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOIL climas mmm! A\1g Y11, 1942- J. w. HORNING l PARAGHUTE HARNESS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 3, 1940 IN V EN TOR.

James W Farfa Patented Aug. 1l, 1,942

PARACHUTE HARNESS James W. Burning, Sayville, N. Y., assigner to Homing Parachute Harness Co., Inc.

Application June 3, 1940, serial Nb. 338,660

s claims.

This invention relates to a parachute harness and 'more particularly to a harness of the type used with pack parachutes. At the present time an aviator has difllculty in releasing a parachute harness when landing. This is due to the fact that the aviator hangs in such a position that harness, he is liable to drown by being dragged face downward through the water or by the weight of the parachute causing him to sink before a rescue boat reaches him.

Therefore, one object of the invention is to provide a harness having the parachute engaging straps so mounted that when they are subjected to a jerk as the parachute opens they will cause the aviator to be suspended in substantially a seated position, thus removing strain from the leg straps and the waist strap and permitting buckles carried by these straps to be very easily released before a landing is made.

Another object of the invention is to so apply the parachute engaging straps that `the aviator will be supported at such an angle after the parachute opens that he will not be liable to fall out of the harness even if.the hooks of the safety l straps are released at quite. a distance above the ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide Y the` harness with a cross bar of metal or other stili material which extends back of thev legs transversely thereof and constitutes a stili' seat i upon which the aviator rests while descending.

Another object of the invention .is to provide a harness of such construction that a conventional harness may be easily, transformed into a harness of the improved construction.

The invention is illustrated in the accompany-.

ing drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved harness as it appears when initially put on by an aviator.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the une 5 5 ofrig. 4.

Fig. 6 is .a fragmentary sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 'I--l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the seat bar.

Fig. 9 is a view looking at the front of the seat bar.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the seat bar on the line i-I of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line lI--Il of Fig. 1.

The harness constituting the subject matter oi this invention has the usual side straps iwhich are doubled to form plies la and Ib and have their lower ends connected by a cross 'portion 2 carrying leg straps 3 equipped with snap hooks 4 at their free ends. The leg straps are adjustable longitudinally and provided with conventional f buckles 5 in order that they may be held at ad justed lengths. The hooks 4 are detachably en gaged with eyes 6 when the harness is worn, in order to hold the straps 3 about a persons legs, the eyes 6 being carried by lower ends of straps 1 which may be termed shoulder straps as they extend upwardly in crossed relation to each other at the back of the harness for engaging over a persons shoulders and then extending downwardly at the front and carry buckles 8 slidably mounted on the side. straps I. Stops 9 formed by pads yIl) sewed or otherwise secured between the plies or sections of the side straps, limit upward sliding of the side straps through the buckles 9 from their initial positions shown in Eig. 1 to the positions shown inFigs. 2 and 3. From an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be seen that the side straps and the depending forward portions of the shoulder straps are initially held in 1 flat face to face contact with each other by fragile fasteners I I which are formed of tire vtape or other suitable material capable of being torn loose by strain exerted when an opened parachute exerts pull on the side straps. When this pull occurs, the harness tilts rearwardly and the -'si ie straps slide through the buckles until the stops 9 engage the buckles and prevent rearward tilting of the harness-beyond the position shown in Fig. 3. Therefore, an aviator will be prevented 4 harness.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the harness i in tilted position.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the harness.

from tilting rearwardly to a position in which he might be liable to fall out of the harness and will be supported in a seated position in the l retainer band or strip I2 holds the shoulder .other at the back of the aviator. The usual back strap i3 is provided to extend across the small of A \straps in proper cross relation to each the aviators back and has its end' portions sudleg straps and the extensions Il will be suiilciently loose to permit the hooks to .be easily released engaged with each other as shown in Fig. 2 and hold the chest straps in position to prevent an aviator from falling forwardly out of the harness when making a jump.y

In order to brace the cross portion 2- of the harness and provide a solid seat for the harness. there has been provided a cross bar' or seat Il which is preferablyl formed of metal tubing but may be (formed of wood or other suitable material. This bar has fiat upperl and lower faces and curved front and rear edges and is gradually reduced in thickness toward its ends where it terminates in eyes Ita. A fabric securing strip I5 extends along the under face of the seat bar with its end portions I6 extending upwardly and sewed or otherwise firmly secured against the outer faces of the side straps I. A strap I1 has one end portion wrapped about the seat bar and the fabric strips which extend along upper and lower faces. of the bar and rmly secured by a buckle I8. This strap I1 extends rearwardly l extendingv upwardly through the eyes and firmly from the -seat bar and then upwardlyand is l formed with a loop I9 loosely engaged about the back strap I3. Since the folded end portion of the strap which forms the loop carries a buckle '20, it may beV adjusted longitudinally and the strap caused to fit properly. An auxiliary strip or narrow strap 2I is secured at one end to the loop I! adjacent the upper end thereof and at its 4other end carries elastic shoulder bands 22 which extend upwardly and forwardly/ over the shoulders and are secured by stitching between forward portions of the shoulder straps 1 and the side straps I. 'I'he elastic strips'exert upward pull on the strap I'I and'hold it close against4 the aviator wearing the harness. It should also.

be noted that the'elasticity of the'strips permits suliicientgiveto prevent binding when anaviator wearing the harness leans over and there will'be no danger of the strips accidentally tearing loose.

During useof the harness it is put on in the l usual manner with the leg straps brought forwardly and upwardly between the legs and the hooks I are engaged with the eyes l. The extensions I 3a of the back straps I3 are then brought forward toward each other and the buckles I5 engaged with the eye I6. Upper portions of the side straps will now extendl rearwardly-over the shoulders and down to the parachute packand, since the side straps and the forward portions of the shoulder straps are secured to each other by the tapes I I, they cannot move out of their proper positions and become tangled when a jump is made and the rip-cord pulled to release the parachute. 'I'he seat bar nts close even before reaching the ground and the aviator may quickly throw of! the harness upon landing and will not be dragged. The fact that the `harness is supported in rearwardly tilted position eliminates any danger of the aviator falling out of the harness-and being killed or injured. 1nstead of using tire tape to temporarily bind the `forward portions of the shoulder straps to the side straps, snap fasteners or the like may be substituted and the upper forward ends of the elastic strips 22 may be detachably secured by means other than thread.. Y

Having thus described .the invention, what is claimed is: 1.v In a parachute harness, suspension straps at sides of the harness having portions extending between their lower ends to form a cross strap, a seat b'ar consisting of a flattened tubular metal bar extending along the under face o1' the cross strap with its end portions projecting outwardly from the suspension straps and provided with eyes, and a supporting strap extending along the under iaceof the seat bar with its end portions secured to the suspension straps above the, seat `bar and the cross strap,

2. In a parachute harness, suspension straps at sides of the harness having portions extending betweentheir lower ends to form a cross strap, a seat bar consisting of a flattened tubular metal bar having its ends formed'with eyes, the seat bar extending along the cross strap under the same with its eyes projecting outwardly from the suspension straps, a supporting strap extending along the under face of the seat bar with its end portions extending upwardly through the eyes and firmly secured against outer side faces of the-suspending straps, a back strap carried by the suspension straps, and a strap having one end secured about the seat bar and the cross strap and the supporting strap midway the length of the seat bar, the last mentioned strap extending rearwardly from the seat bar and up wardly with its upper portion secured to the back strap.

3. In a parachute harness, suspension straps at sides of the harness having portions extending between their lower ends to form a cross strap, a seat bar consisting of a'ilattened tubular metal [bar having its ends formed with eyes, the seat against the upper portions of the-aviators legs across the rear thereof where it is held by the leg straps. When a jump is made and the parachute is released, the sudden jerk caused when the parachute opens tears the tapes II vand the buckles 8 will slide along the side straps until they engage the stops 9. The harness will then assume -a rearward tilt, as shown in Fig. 3, and the aviator will be supported in a seated position. 'Ihe stitches holding the elastic strips will also be torn loose and these strips, together with strip 2l will hang downwardly at the back of the harand the supporting strap midway the length of the seat bar, the last mentioned strap extending rearwardly from the seat bar and upwardly with its upper portion formed into a loop loosely en' gage'd about the' back strap, shoulder straps seness. The rigid seat bar not only provides a comfortable seat for the aviator but also acts as a rigid foundation or base for the harness and the cured at their lower ends to the suspension straps and having their upper ends brought forwardly and slidabl'y connected with the suspension straps for movement to a position allowing limited rearward tilting of the harness, means for temporarily holding the shoulder straps against sliding movement along the suspension straps adapted to be released by jerk of an opening parachute,

a strip secured at its lower end to the loop ender straps andthe suspension straps.

f 4. ,In a parachute harness, suspension straps under face of the stii bar with its end portions extending upwardly through the eyes and rmly secured to the suspension straps, a back strap carried by the suspension straps, and a strap at sides of the harness, a stiff seat membery mounted between lower ends of the suspension straps, a back strap carried by said suspension straps, shoulder straps secured at their lower ends to the suspension straps and extending upwardly with their upper end portions brought forward, eyes at front ends of the shoulder straps loosely engaged about the suspension straps to' permit sliding movement of the shoulder strapsV and ,the suspension straps relative to Ieach other, means to temporarily hold the shoulder straps in xed positions relative to the suspension straps, and abutments carried by the suspension straps above the back strap for engaging said eyes to limit slidingl of the suspension straps through the eyes and cause the harness to tilt rearwardly and support a person wearing the harness in a seated position.

5. In a parachute harness, suspension straps at sides of the harness, a cross strap extending between lower ends of the suspension straps, a seat consisting of a at stil bar of greater length than the vcross strap extending along the under face of the cross strap and having its ends projecting from the cross strap and formed with eyes, a supporting strap extending along the having one end secured about the seat bar and the cross strap and the supporting strap and extending rearwardly therefrom and upwardly and connected with the back strap.

6. In a parachute harness, suspension straps at sides of the harness, a stiff seat mounted between lower ends of the suspension straps, a back strap carried by the suspension straps and spaced upwardly from the seat, a strap having one end secured to the seat midway the length thereof, the last mentioned strap extending rearwardly from the seat and upwardly and provided with a loop engaged about the back strap, shoulder straps having their lower ends secured to the suspension straps and their upper portions slide ably connected vwith the suspension straps for movement to a position permitting limited reary ward tilting of the harness, means for temporarily holding the shoulder straps against sliding movement along the suspension straps adapted to be releasedby the jerk of an opening parachute. a strip secured at its lower end to said loop, and elastic means extending from the upper end ofthe last mentioned strip and temporarily secured between the shoulder straps and the susl pension straps.

- JAMES W. HORNING. 

